CR Rae writes about U.S. travel, including family-friendly activities.

Get a Taste of Real Moonshine--without going to the slammer!

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By CR Rae

CR Rae writes about U.S. travel, including family-friendly activities. She likes to find unique, off-the-beaten-path things to do in even the biggest cities. Traveling the highways and byways, she finds the dirt on the back roads and the ins and
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CR Rae writes about U.S. travel, including family-friendly activities. She likes to find unique, off-the-beaten-path things to do in even the biggest cities. Traveling the highways and byways, she finds the dirt on the back roads and the ins and outs of some of the most fun and interesting places -- giving you, the traveler, those little tidbits of info to get the most from your travels.

New Straitsville, Ohio is a legendary bootleg town. For more than 40 years, visitors have experienced firsthand moonshine culture at the annual Moonshine Festival in Ohio's Hocking Hills.

Over the past years the moonshine made on the antique stills was dumped due to strict liquor laws. Not a drop was to be tasted by visitors. however this year the over 100 year tradition is reborn with the opening of the Straitsville Special Distillery Memorial Day.

The Moonshine Festival takes place on Straitsville's Main Street. This is the first time those attending the festival will be able to taste the moonshine that is made from a working still. Just to define moonshine--it is illegal liquor. However, Straitsville Special will be producing a trademark high-quality corn whiskey, legally. It will be on sale and for sample.

As far as hooch goes, years ago the Straitsville shine was considered to be the "gold standard". During prohibition when ordering a drink in a speakeasy a person was often asked if they wanted the local stuff or the Straitsville Special. The special shine was popular and even famed mobster Al Capone became involved in running New Straitsville moonshine out of the area.

The town became one of the country's largest moonshine producers. In 1884 as part of a labor dispute a fire was started--it continues to burn today. The fire produced thick, black coal smoke, making it almost impossible for the revenuers to detect bootleggers by the customary method of tracking the telltale smoke rising form stills hidden in the woods.

Because miners did not have enough work, to put food on the table, they turned to bootleging. NASCAR's earliest racing days can be traced to moonshining when bootleggers would soup up the cars used to haul the booze--making a fast getaway. often they raced each other, actually more than the law.

Today the rich bootlegging history of the town is sung about in the popular song "Old New Straitsville Moonshine Run." The album, "Scratch Gravel Road, by Special Consensus was nominated for a Grammy.

At the festival Wayne Nox of the Discovery Channel show "Moonshiners" will appear on Saturday of the event (2014).

There is plenty to do at the festival with a history museum, flea market, carnival rides and games. There are special souvenirs, talent show, cruise-in, tractor pull, not one, but two parades, food, musical entertainment and so much more.

The practice of bootlegging is producing distilled spirits, which are highly regulated and taxed, without government knowledge, review or taxation. It originated in the United States as part of the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion. Under President George Washington, federal taxes were imposed on whiskey, sparking a backlash among farmers and a rise in illegal distilling. Bootlegging grew further during the prohibition era, from 1920-1933. The practice grew in Appalachian areas like Ohioís Hocking Hills, because its lush forests offered exceptional hiding places for illegal still operations.

Hocking Hills is located just 40 miles south of the capital city of Columbus. There is plenty to do for all ages, affordable lodging, ziplines, antique shops, conoeing, spas and so much more. If you can't make it this year...put it on your Bucket List for next year.